Roccascalegna

Roccascalegna
Roccascalegna
Comune
	Comune di Roccascalegna
	Castello di Roccascalegna
	Location of Roccascalegna
	Roccascalegna Location of Roccascalegna in Italy Roccascalegna Roccascalegna (Abruzzo)
	Coordinates: 42°0′N 14°18′E / 42.000°N 14.300°E
Country	Italy
Region	Abruzzo
Province	Chieti (CH)
Frazioni	Agoniera, Aia di Rocco, Articciaro, Capriglia, Collebuono, Colle Grande, Finocchieto, Fontacciaro, Pagliari Gentili, Solagne
Area
• Total	22 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	430 m (1,410 ft)
Population (31 March 2011)
• Total	1,177
• Density	54/km2 (140/sq mi)
Demonym	Roccolani
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	66040
Dialing code	0872
ISTAT code	069075
Patron saint	SS. Cosma e Damiano
Saint day	27 September
Website	http://www.comuneroccascalegna.gov.it/

Roccascalegna is a comune and town in the province of Chieti, part of the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Names

There are several hypotheses on the origin of the name of the country. Some scholars referring to the Catalogus Baronum from 1379 which indicated the country as "Rocca-scarengia" and the studies of ancient French language not well identified claimed that "scalegna" would derive from "scarengia" or "scarenna" ie cliff, escarpment or ravine, indicating the side of the spur on which is the fortress is built on; others believes it datego back to the Longobardo language Aschari, "Rocc-ascha"r that changing the r in l by consonantal rotation became Roccascalegna. The most accredited and popular thesis maintains that the current name derives from "Rocca with the wooden staircase", a wooden ladder that led directly from the village to the castle tower (a scale also depicted in the municipal coat of arms

History

Middge Ages

As reported by the Catalogus Baronum, the origin of the village dates back to the 12th century, more precisely in 1160, perhaps on a pre-existing settlement. However, it is certain that in the Collelongo area uins of the Eneolithic have been found and in Capriglia and Colle Cicerone of the ruins of the Roman era. However, the monks probably already existed in the area as for the Church of San Pancrazio already existing in 829. The current church dates back to 1205 as a reconstruction of the pre-existing church. Originally the village was built as a Lombard outpost for the control of the Rio Secco Valley to defend the area against the Byzantines. The Longobards erected, where now is the castle of Roccascalegna, a watchtower. The Franks followed one after another, then the Normans. The real castle, however, is probably from the Norman period. In 1320 Roccascalegna was nominated in the Angevin period "cum castellione", at that time, therefore, the castle already existed. The next mention is of the fifteenth century, in the reign of Giovanna II of Naples during the exploits of Giacomo Caldora, with the rebellion of his son Antonio, the abuses of Raimondo Caldora and the ascent to the throne of the Aragonese to the throne of the Kingdom of Naples. In this period a soldier under the command of Giacomo Caldora, Raimondo Annechino is feudatory of the village, his family remained feudatory of the village until 1525 when Giovanni Maria Annechino had the castle rebuilt.

Modern Times

With the advent of the modern era there is the usual succession of feudal lords and various steps from the feudal lords themselves to the Royal Court and from this to a new lord to be accepted by the Chapters. In 1531 Diego Sarmemto confirms these Chapters or Statutes, but immediately afterwards the village returns to the Royal Court that sells it to Giovanni Genovois of Chalem who resells it to the Carafa. Horace Carafa oppressed the villagers until, on October 15, 1584, they rise up and, helped by the priest, kill him. His brother Giovanni Girolamo and Girolamo succeed him. At the end of the century the Carafa, overburdened with debts, were forced to sell the castle. The Corvo or de Corvis succeed to the Carafa. The last feudal lords of Roccascalegna were the Nanni. The castle, at the time, was in poor condition. Their residence was moved lower, to a place considered more comfortable. Today this building is used as a private residence, but there are also an oven and a workshop. With the unification of Italy, robbery, emigration and brigandage flourish while the rich bourgeois speculate on land ownership. The castle willhave to wait until the end of the millennium to be restored.

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Monuments

Medieval village: The small town is perfectly preserved, lying on the spur of the mountain.
Medieval castle: The Castello di Roccascalegna was built by the Lombards, with a Norman tower. In 16th century the structure was enlarged, with the construction of three circular towers. In the inner porch the chapel of the Holy Rosary was erected, linked to the medieval church of San Pietro.
Church of San Pietro: It was built in the Middle Ages, consisting of rough mountain stone. The bell tower was restored in the 19th century.
Abbey of San Pancrazio: The church was opened in 1205, and was built in medieval times.

^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

Resources

A. Di Loreto, Il Castello di Roccascalegna, storia e restauro, Teramo 1999
W. Capezzali, C. Cianci, L. Cuomo, Capitoli di Roccascalegna, Bucchianico 1996
"Roccascalegna". Borghi e paesi d'Abruzzo. Vol. 11. Pescara: Carsa Edizioni. 2008. pp. 9–20. SBN IT\ICCU\TER\0031821.